Page 23 - Full Sample of ec magazine

weekend > 7/12 2 Personal Space
Do you You have to let tuesday > 7/14 3

kNoW HiM? Jesus be Lord HeRe’S HoW To GeT A LiFe. wednesday > 7/15

of your life. hy do you think some students live to get a “rush” from things like He’S GoT

He is the image of It’s a decision wdrugs, adventure, and relationships with the opposite sex? do you think PoWeR.
the invisible God, the YOU have to these things will bring true and lasting pleasure? where do you look in life for
firstborn over all creation. true enjoyment and fulfillment?
—Colossians 1:15 make. hen Was the last time
life was in Him, and that read John 1:1-5. What does verse 4 wyou went to the doctor? have
mean to you?
you ever felt like you needed more
life was the light of men.
read colossians 1:15-17. —john 1:4 � who is the word in these verses? than physical healing? does it ever
hen you hear someone � how was he involved in creation seem like no one can handle all the
wmention the name “jesus,” according to verse 3? problems that overwhelm your life?
what comes to mind? a baby in a � according to these verses, what is life? from where does it come?
manger? or maybe just a religious who gives it? So that what was spoken
feeling? regardless of who you are, it � does it surprise you that physical and spiritual life come from the word through the prophet
is crucial that you figure out who this of god? why or why not? Isaiah might be fulfilled:
jesus is. your forgiveness, joy, and � where have you found yourself searching for life other than from christ? “He Himself took our
eternity are at stake. the good news weaknesses and carried our
is that god’s word gives us a clear 1 do you love the latest thing in technology? you will soon discover that you are diseases.” —Matthew 8:17
answer. fighting a losing battle. just when you think an ipod could not possibly hold any
®
in colossians 1:15 we learn that monday > 7/13 more songs, they come out with a new one that holds twice as many. your ipod read Matthew 8:14-17. reflect on
jesus christ is the very image of god, then becomes an ancient artifact. Many people take this same approach to life. verse 17.
showing us exactly what god is like. iS He AT THe CeNTeR oF youR LiFe? because of our sinful nature, we are always looking for something or � what does this passage teach you
in fact, he is the divine son of god someone other than god to satisfy us. you’ve seen it in yourself and your about jesus’ attitude toward those
who came in the flesh. it may surprise hoM do you look up to in our culture? do you often wish that others friends, in that constant search for meaning through money, sex, popularity, who are physically sick? toward
you to learn that everything in the wthought more highly of you? what do you think that says about your heart? whatever. but the one who created us offers true life. those who are spiritually sick?
universe was created through him jesus is referred to as the word of god in today’s passage, and it is through � what does this episode in jesus’
and for him. even now, the world read colossians 1:18-23 and look closely at verse 18. him that god created the world. both our physical and spiritual lives depend on ministry tell us about his mercy and
holds together because of the living � what does it mean that jesus is to him. other things may offer us a short-lived sense of security and excitement, his power?
lord jesus. Mountains, oceans, and He is also the head of the have the “first place in everything” but eternal life comes only through jesus christ. only he truly satisfies us � is there a sin in your life that seems
all people were created for the glory body, the church; He is the (col. 1:18)? forever. too great for jesus to overcome?
of jesus christ. beginning, the firstborn � what does it mean that all of god’s � how does this passage speak to that?
some people claim to know god from the dead, so that fullness dwells in jesus?
and love him while rejecting jesus. He might come to have � what does it say about the it is rare that we see someone who is
our passage makes it clear that first place in everything. greatness and worth of jesus’ both powerful and merciful. but this
this is not possible because god has —Colossians 1:18 sacrifice in light of the fact that he is exactly what we see in jesus christ.
revealed himself perfectly in the is fully god? Matthew 8:17 refers to isaiah 53:4, an
person of his son. the father not � does he have first place in everything in your life? why or why not? old testament prophecy about a man
only created and sustains the world to come who would take upon himself
through jesus, but he also saves our culture tells us constantly that the way to happiness and meaning in life is the sickness and sin of his people. this
sinners through him. the son of to have better self-esteem. after all, they say, you need to learn to love yourself prophecy was fulfilled in jesus christ.
god became a Man in order to save because it is all about you. this may sound appealing, but it completely goes in Matthew 8:14-17, the situation
people like us who deserve god’s against god’s design. no wonder it leaves us so empty in the end. surely seemed grim. however, jesus’
punishment. god has designed creation so that his son, jesus christ, would have first healing touch was more than just a
amazingly, jesus christ, the place in all things. this makes sense, for jesus is fully god. the simple truth: “hang-in-there” pat on the back. it was
creator and lord of the universe, died god never intended for us to be the center of the universe. when we get a a touch of divine mercy and power.
for our sins on a cruel cross and rose glimpse of his glory, we begin to realize how unworthy and sinful we are. yet, in in fact, the woman was completely
from the dead that we might have life. his grace, god has provided the way for us to be forgiven of our sins because of and instantly healed! jesus christ
this is the jesus of the bible. do you jesus’ great sacrifice on the cross. everything we need in life is found in him, for has power and authority over all of
know him? he is lord of all. creation, but his greatness does not
so what does that mean for your daily life? if jesus is lord of everything in mean that we are insignificant to him.
this world, he is lord of your life—all the drama, decisions, dreams, fears, and he cares for the weak and sinful. he
doubts. but you have to let him be lord of your life. have you submitted to has the power to deal with sickness—
jesus as lord? physical and spiritual. he can free us
from the spiritual effects of our sin.
True satisfaction is in Christ alone.
22 | jul 2009 ec magazine ec magazine jul 2009 | 23